What it's NOT
conductor does NOT translate to conductor (de auto).
To say "conductor (de auto)" in English, use driver.
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False cognate · False friend
conductor
Does NOT mean conductor (de auto)
It means an orchestra conductor / a ticket collector
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
conductor means an orchestra conductor / a ticket collector.
Why it's confused
Spanish "conductor" is someone who drives a vehicle. English "conductor" is someone who leads an orchestra or who collects tickets on a train or bus. A vehicle driver in English is "driver."
How it's pronounced
conductorcon-DÁK-tor
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Examples of correct use
English
The conductor raised his baton.
Spanish
El director de orquesta levantó la batuta.
English
The train conductor checked our tickets.
Spanish
El revisor del tren revisó los boletos.
A trick to remember it
Conductor = orchestra leader or ticket collector. A vehicle driver (Spanish "conductor") = driver.
Mini quiz
"The orchestra conductor" is...
Frequently asked questions
What does "conductor" mean in English?
"Conductor" means "an orchestra conductor / a ticket collector". It looks a lot like "conductor", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "conductor" in English?
To say "conductor" in English, use "driver". If you use "conductor" instead, you would actually be saying "an orchestra conductor / a ticket collector".
Do "conductor" and "conductor" mean the same thing?
Spanish "conductor" is someone who drives a vehicle. English "conductor" is someone who leads an orchestra or who collects tickets on a train or bus. A vehicle driver in English is "driver."
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
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